The Eye Health Innovation Accelerator is a Sub‑Saharan Africa–wide program designed to identify, invest in, and scale high‑impact, tech‑enabled solutions that address major eye‑health challenges across low- and middle-income countries.
Through this Accelerator, Villgro Africa and The Fred Hollows Foundation aim to close those gaps by supporting ventures that can deliver scalable, affordable, and sustainable eye‑care innovations whether through AI diagnostics, tele‑ophthalmology, portable screening tools, data platforms, or affordable assistive devices.
Eligibility Criteria
- Startups must be Legally registered in a Sub‑Saharan African country.
- Founder or senior leader must be resident in an African country.
- Offer a proven, tech‑enabled eye‑health solution addressing major vision challenges (screening, diagnostics, treatment, care, assistive tech, etc.)
- Demonstrate traction: adoption, active pilots, partnerships, or early revenue. Pure idea‑stage or academic‑prototype ventures, or those solely donor‑funded without sustainability, are not eligible.
- Show clear potential to scale across LMIC markets, with sustainable business model and alignment with public health needs, data protection, and responsible innovation principles.
Benefits
- Catalytic seed funding in the range of $100,000 to $ 250,000, depending on stage with potential for follow‑on investment.
- Technical assistance and mentorship from leading experts in ophthalmology, digital health, and health‑system integration.
- Market access support introductions and pathways to hospitals, clinics, NGOs, public‑health institutions, referral networks, and other stakeholders important for deployment.
- In‑person bootcamp and peer‑learning sessions opportunities to refine business models, learn from fellow founders, and strengthen operations for scale.
- Support navigating government and public‑health pathways helping to align with national eye‑health policies, regulations, and public‑sector partnerships.
- Networking & investor connections access to partner/co‑investor networks, building cap tables, preparing for next rounds of growth.
- Refined business model and investment‑ready strategy, making the venture more attractive to future investors and better positioned for sustainable growth.
